Monday, March 02, 2009

"A Lesson on Vampires" & More Spooky News

A Lesson on Vampires: An Interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith by Stephanie Greene at Through the Tollbooth. Peek: "'It was an ambitious book in terms of 'mythology' building,' Cynthia said. 'I believe in angels (and ghosts too), but somehow I suspect my creative liberties were not insubstantial. I have a well developed history for the vampires, the shifters (going back to the ice age), and the angels. On the craft front, I also had to develop two voices/protagonists, each with their own internal-external arc and have them mirror in a way that was thematically resonant.'"

Faith and good works: Mormon writers find their niche in wholesome young adult genre from The Boston Globe. Peek: "That Mormon writers have come to loom large in an increasingly popular literary genre can be linked to several unique characteristics of their faith and culture: an aversion to the sex and swearing that prevails in adult fiction, a propensity for large families that often means a child-focused life, and an affinity for fantasy writing." Note: Julie Berry, the debut author who's the primary focus of the article, is one of my former students and an extraordinary talent. Please look for her new novel The Amaranth Enchantment (Bloomsbury, March 3, 2009).Book Giveaway: Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner from Endicott Studio: The best place for mythic art. Peek: "This week, I am giving away a book that was one of my most anticipated titles of 2009--a book that totally lived up to all my expectations and excitement." Deadline: March 8.Events

Libraries host local children's authors for readings: A bevy of area children's authors will present readings at the Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) on The University of Texas at Austin campus on March 7. The event, entitled "Books for Kids," is an extension of Explore UT--"The Biggest Open House in Texas"--and is being hosted by the University of Texas Libraries. See more information.

About Me

New York Times & Publishers Weekly best-selling, award-winning author the Tantalize series, the Feral series and other critically acclaimed fiction for young readers. She/her. MFA Faculty, Vermont College of Fine Arts. Board member, We Need Diverse Books. Ohonvyetv!